U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a major aid package for Pakistan on Monday - with hundreds of millions of dollars pledged on projects to address the country's water and power shortage, and its floundering economy.

Clinton made the announcement at the beginning of a day-long "strategic dialogue" in Islamabad on the second day of her visit to the South Asian country.

The projects, which Clinton called "long-term investment in Pakistan's future," include the construction of several dams, improvements to hydroelectric power plants and the country's power grid, and the construction or renovation of three medical facilities.

The United States will also invest $100 million to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized businesses, and provide $50 million to support investments in innovation and technology projects, she said.

The projects will be funded by the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act that authorizes $7.5 billion in development aid to Pakistan over the next five years.

"This is a long term process to get Pakistan what it needs in terms of energy. This is a 15-year project," a U.S. official said on Sunday. The official did not want to be named because the comments were made ahead of Monday's official announcement.

In the past year, the United States has started engaging Pakistan more, according to Vali Nasr, a senior adviser to Richard Holbrooke - the U.S. special representative for the region.

The process included Clinton's visit to the nation last October, and that trip was followed by various high-level visits that have made Pakistan more aware of U.S. intentions, said Nasr.

Anti-American sentiment is widespread in Pakistan, and the United States hopes to build more trust between the two countries.

But there is "a huge trust gap" that won't be overcome quickly, Nasr said.

"We are not going to be able to change their foreign policy on a dime," he said.

On Monday, Clinton said the two countries are making progress in overcoming their "trust deficit."

"We are looking to establish broader, long-lasting collaboration," she said. "We have commitment that is much broader and deeper than ever."

Next, Clinton continues on to an international conference in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, and stops in South Korea and Vietnam before heading home.

soundoff(26 Responses)

CIA and Obama are feeding the snake, hoping it wont bite them. goes to show how utterly clueless Obama is about Crapistan but then probably no worse than Bush. and CIA is central idiots agency. they wouldn't know terrorism if it smacked them in the ball$...

How the hell can we afford to give Pakistan $7.5 billion in aid over the next 5 years when we're in a recession, in debt and in 2 wars. This is absurd. What about the homelss and unemplyed in this country? What about the bridges and highways that are falling apart. If you can't keep your own house in order you have no business messing in someone elses. This is no more than a bribe.

RO, get with the program buddy, thats how the Democraps fight, they pay you off and it doesn't matter if they can pay for it or not because we all will pay for it later in TAXATION. The only combat experience they have is with their lips and I am not talking about the lips on their faces.

As an Indian, this is disturbing. As an American this should be even more disturbing. Reality is India and China are the future of this planet (not to be conceited) The United States is only angering India with a move like this, which will in turn only hurt the 2 countries relations. Making the giant that India is, unhappy, is not a wise move. The reality still is that the United States needs the largest democracy, 3rd largest consuming economy, and rapidly growing India to be at the top of her "friendlist"

Its very very unfortunate that we have such rulers who are ready to sell their soul for few $ ...what ever is going on in pakistan I mean such a butral terrorisum by which no any citizen except those rulers are safe..If it would happen in usa or ant other country than they just start bombing the suspected country without any proof.. but we the pakistani rulers just need $ , having know that who are behind all this terrorisum and killings of inocents all around pak..from drons to bomb attackes....just for 7.5 billons..they should know if they are giving u...than how much they are earning...i mean drilling afghanistan for trillions of $ minrals and getting transit route from us for earning trilions..from drug and minirals trade around the world..well our leaders need just few $ and u.k or usa citizenship..their religon is $ only..sorry to say

$7.5 billion to Pakistan? $7.5 billion divided by 5 (years), divided by 12 (monthes) is $125 million. That equals $8,620.69 a month for 5 years to each of the current 14.5 million on unemployment right now. Numbers were provided by CNN, 7/19/10 on the news. Obama said that there are 5 applications for each 1 job in his plea to the GOP for releasing more unemployment benefits. My question to the politicians is this, how are the other 4 out of five people for whom the jobs DO NOT exist for, going to pay for the Pakistanies to have water that the Pakistanies are not willing to provide for themselves? Guess the 4 out of 5 for whom there are not the jobs for can bath in the Gulf Of Mexico......

Sack loads of free American taxpayer dollars to the tune of many Billions of FREE money to Pakistan is buying America what exactly? More Taliban fighters murdering American and NATO soldiers? More Taliban fighters murdering Afghanistan people? More Taliban fighters murdering the civilians in nearby India?

A Lt. General of the Pakistani ISI appears linked to the man that wired large amounts of money to the 9/11 high jackers. The same Lt. General of the ISI met with virtually all of the Bush Administration the week prior to 9/11 and left town the morning of 9/11.

What exactly are the Billions of free American taxpayer dollars being funneled to Pakistan buying? More weapons and explosives to the Taliban fighters? More black op's to murder India's civilians?

A silent victim in this yet another massive transfer of American taxpayer dollars is America's senior citizen's programs across America which were slashed to practically non-existent levels recently. Many had worked they entire lives supporting and helping America, now they are treated by the Republican Potty'ticians like disposable trash, a drain on their corporate's special interests, instead of the dignity and respect they truly deserve from all Americans.

why are we giving hundreds of millions of dollars to a country which generally dislikes the US, while so many of our own citizens need help. Let's let the rest of the world help them and keep our money here! Put the money to work helping the US and strengthening our country, not someone else's.

yeah right...
7 and half billion $ goes to Terrorist pakistanies to attack Afghanistan more and more and Create more Taliban as much as they can in the next 5 years to keep this war going on and on....

This is completely bullsh!t, everyone knows Talibans are mainly from Pakistan, then why on earth US should provide $ to Pakistan to make Talibans more powerful and creative ?

Now we see where the priorities of this right-wing administration lies.We have have billions of dollars to give to Pakistan while our roads and bridges are falling into disrepair,our schools and libraries are closing and both policemen and firemen are being laid off in droves just for openers.As long as the MIC(military-industrial-complex) remains in control of things,this will continue.We really need to rid Washington of these right-wing fanatics.

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